(Brussels) “Churches, and the Catholic Church, play an important role because they are based on values such as the European Union. There’s no Europe with no values”. President of the EU Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said that to SIR alongside yesterday evening’s reception set up by COMECE and the representation of the State of Bavaria at the EU, at the end of the two six-year mandates of Cardinal Reinhard Marx leader of COMECE. The President of the European Commission thanked the Archbishop of Munich for the role he played in the last few years within the European Union, as President of COMECE. He said: “A man who has never withdrawn before any question”, capable of speaking to the people, listening to them, and above all, working “to foster integration”. Then, Juncker said that the European Union is based on values, and that “principles are more important than programmes”. Without values “Europe fails”; therefore, Christians “hold responsibility”. At the end of his speech – in German – Juncker wished success to the successor to be elected by the delegate bishops meeting in plenary. On addressing Cardinal Marx, he said: “We’’ll never forget you because you are part of us, and part of Europe”.